Tehillimandpoetry

by Mishkin David

Generations

This is the tale of “the generations of Yitzchak”. But don’t think of this like the generational list we saw in parsha Noach (Bereisheet/Genesis 10), which is sometimes described as “the table of nations”. No, we have begun to narrow things down. After all, we would be here forever if we tried to tell the stories of every family on the planet! No, of necessity, we must restrict our story-telling to the line that is relevant to our situation. That’s why we are continuing to talk specifically about the birth of the two boys, Ya’akov and Esav, and the relationship between them.

There Once Was a Man with Two Sons…

There seemed to be a lot of problems with women giving birth in those days. Sarah was barren, and Rivkah was barren. But Hashem somehow worked around the issues, and allowed these matriarchs to bear children for the sake of the Promise. It was almost as if Adonai took a special pleasure in demonstrating his power to heal and make whole as he began the process of bringing his promise to fruition. After all, when you’re on the hook for giving an old man “descendants as numerous as the stars and the grains of sand”, you can’t let a little thing like barren spouses get in your way!

But the real point of the story tonight is Ya’akov and Esav, the twins who were as different as night and day. The differences were clear right from the beginning. Esav was delivered first, complete, covered with hair, and ready to take on the world. Ya’akov, on the other hand, was more easy-going, taking his time, and taking help wherever he could get it.

As the boys grew, their differences became even more pronounced. Esav was an outdoors-man, a hunter, one of those guys who likes to show off his muscles and his healthy tan. Ya’akov, on the other hand, well… let’s just say that everything Esav was, he wasn't. Ya’akov liked to stay in the tent for long stretches at a time. Everyone used to wonder what he did in there all that time! But the long and the short of it was, Yitzchak always had a special place in his heart for Esav, while Rivkah took great delight in her quieter, more studious, Ya’alov.

These differences, of course, led to a great deal of sibling rivalry. And when Esav wanted to wrestle and blow off some steam, guess who took the brunt of the blows. It seemed like Esav was better at everything! Poor Ya’akov just couldn't seem to catch a break. Until….

A Matter of Priorities

One day, Ya’akov was minding his own business, making some lunch, when his brother came rushing towards him, quite out of breath. If Ya’akov didn't know better, he’d have sworn someone was chasing after Esav. What could possibly have put him in such a state? Well, we’ll never know, because that isn't part of the story that has been handed down—sorry!

What we do know is that Esav begged for some of the red lentil soup Ya’akov had been preparing for his mother. Did I say “begged”? Probably more like, “demanded!” After all, what was Ya’akov going to do? Turn him down?

No, Ya’akov was too scared of his brother to refuse the demand. But he did recognize an opportunity. He saw that his short-sighted jock of a brother was in one of those moods where he wasn't thinking very clearly. So, he decided to propose a deal, and see what came of it.

“In exchange for the soup, I want the birthright of the firstborn son, which is rightfully yours,” he said.

Surprisingly, Esav fell for the bait! “Oh, what good are birthright promises when I’m about to die of hunger? You can have my last goat, for all I care. Just give me some of that blasted soup!”

Ya’akov couldn't believe his own ears! “Are you kidding? You’re willing to give up 33% of Abba’s wealth when he dies? Just so you can have a lousy bowl of soup today? Well, who am I to look a gift camel in the mouth? Deal! You get the soup, and I get the inheritance!”

As it turned out, this became an ongoing argument between the two boys. And later, when their father got older, it really came to a head! His vision had blurred with age, and Rivkah took it upon herself to use that deficiency against him. You see…

Passing on the Birthright

The time came when Yitzchak decided he needed to appoint an heir. He was getting old, his vision was bad, and he wasn't quite the young man he used to be. So, he called for Esav, so he could officially appoint him the inheritor of the family business and the holder of the covenant promises from Adonai. All throughout his life, Adonai had periodically reconfirmed the covenant that had come through Avraham, and now Yitzchak wanted to pass that promise on to his heir, just as his father had done for him.

But Rivkah heard what Yitzchak planned to do, and she decided to circumvent her husband’s plans. While Esav was out hunting for the game that would serve as the main course at the covenant banquet, she quickly grabbed an animal from the flocks and prepared it. Then she sent Ya’akov in to his father with the food, and told him to lie, saying he was Esav. She even made sure the deception was complete, giving him clothes that belonged to Esav, and trying animal skins to his neck and hands so he would feel like Esav!

Did she do wrong to employ this deception? Oy, we've been arguing that point ever since it first happened! Esav wasn't a particularly bad man. And neither was Ya’akov, really. They just had different approaches to life, and they didn't get along. But at the end of the day, they both just did their best to lead decent lives. But we have to remember that Rivkah had also heard from Hashem, independently of Ya’akov. The stories tell us that Hashem visited her during her pregnancy and told her, “There are two nations in your womb. From birth they will be two rival peoples. One of these peoples will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Now, we don’t know whether she ever shared this prophecy with Yitzchak, or not. Perhaps she did, and he rejected the counsel. All we really know is that he planned to designate the older brother as the official heir of the business and the covenant blessings, and she was determined that Ya’akov should receive them. That’s why she set up this elaborate plan to ensure that the “right” son received the birthright blessings.

Oh, Esav set up a howl when he realized what had happened! He begged and he cried! He pleaded with his father to give him some sort of secondary blessing—maybe make him the vice-president of the family business, or something. And Yitzchak did promise his eldest that he would be successful and prosperous. But he seemed to recognize that the blessings of Hashem were supposed to have gone to Ya’akov, because he made no attempt to reverse what he had done.

A Gain and a Loss

Sadly, Rivkah lost both her sons that day—the very thing she feared most. Ya’akov departed back to “the Old Country”, to his mother’s family in Haran. Both he and Rivkah feared that Esav’s rage would literally drive him to kill his brother. But with Ya’akov gone, Esav’s frustration and anger led him to leave home, joining himself to the Yishmaelite tribes who had been sent away by Avraham.

Through all this we can see that our actions have consequences. All these interactions occurred because of choices made and actions taken by people from previous generations. Rivkah did what she thought best for Ya’akov, but in the end, it led to yet another family schism. From the very beginning, it seems that separation between brothers was a necessary thing in order for Hashem’s plans to be accomplished.

It makes one wonder why that must be so. Isn't it possible for Hashem to send a redeemer who can restore the world to its original pristine state? Couldn't he send someone who can bring true justice and brotherhood to all mankind?

Just maybe?

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Posted with permission from Mishkan David

This week's portion:

Tol'dot (History of generations): B'resheet (Genesis) 25:19-28:9

Malachi 1:1-2:7

Romans 9:6-16;

Hebrews 11:20; 12:14-17